Birthday Parties now booking at The Cage · Packages from $350
Now Open · Shepparton, Victoria

Unlock
Potential.
Elevate Performance.

No lines. No standing around. No hiding. Every session is engineered to replicate the reality of the game — where players are forced to think quicker, move smarter, and execute under pressure.

View Programs → See Pricing
04
Program Tiers
04
Specialist Labs
08
Max Group Size
01
Standard · Excellence
01 / Philosophy

The Standard
Is Set Here.

The game doesn't
wait for you.
So training shouldn't either.

Football at its highest level is played in the tightest spaces, under pressure and at speed. So that's how we believe it must be trained.

Technique without pressure doesn't transfer. We don't coach "teams" first — we build individual footballers who can solve problems themselves, understand the game, and compete consistently.

DemandingBecause the game is.
HonestBecause players need truth.
Detail-DrivenBecause that's where separation happens.
Player-CentredIndividuals first. Teams follow.
02 / Head Coach

Built By
Experience.

Craig Carley — Head Coach
Craig
Carley
Director · Head Coach
AFC A Licence Senior HC · GV Suns Player · Coach · Director

Craig Carley is a highly respected coach and football leader, bringing extensive experience across the playing and coaching landscape in Shepparton, Victoria.

An AFC A Licence accredited coach — the highest senior coaching qualification awarded by Football Australia — Craig has built his reputation on developing players and constructing high-performance environments that demand standards, accountability, and growth.

As Senior Head Coach of Goulburn Valley Suns, Craig has played a pivotal role in shaping the club's identity — developing local talent, building strong culture, and preparing players for higher levels of the game.

His background as both a player and a senior-level coach gives him a player-first perspective that runs through every session at The Academy.

"Put the player at the centre of everything." High intensity, game-real training. Individual accountability. A clear pathway for players who want more.
03 / Core Program

Four Tiers.
One Standard.

Four progressive tiers designed to meet every player where they are — and push them further than they expected to go.

Entry
T/01
Foundations
Earn Your Touch. Build Your Base.
For players starting their journey or building confidence on the ball.
Focus
  • Ball mastery & control
  • First touch & technique
  • 1v1 confidence
  • Movement & coordination
Environment
  • High touches, high energy
  • Fun but purposeful
  • No fear — just growth
Players fall in love with the ball — and gain control of it.
$35per player
45-min · 1×/week
Schedule
Wednesday · 5:30–6:15pm
Rise
T/02
Development
Where players separate from the average.
For players ready to execute under pressure.
Focus
  • Decision making at speed
  • Playing under pressure
  • Movement & positioning
  • Competitive habits
Environment
  • Faster, sharper, more demanding
  • Game-real scenarios
  • Accountability introduced
Players stop just playing — and start understanding.
$35per player
45-min · 1×/week
Schedule
Wednesday · 6:30–7:15pm
Edge
T/03
Advanced
The difference is in the detail.
For serious players with strong foundations and commitment.
Focus
  • Speed of play (1–2 touch)
  • Tight space execution
  • Tactical awareness
  • Transition moments
Environment
  • High intensity
  • Small, competitive groups
  • Detail-driven coaching
Consistent performance under pressure and tempo.
$45per player
45-min · 1×/week
Schedule
Friday · 4:45–5:30pm
Elite
T/04 · INV
Assessment / Invitation Only
Not for everyone. Only for those who are serious.
For players preparing for senior football and real pathways.
Focus
  • Position-specific mastery
  • Game models & tactical systems
  • Strength & conditioning
  • Mental performance
  • Video analysis & IDPs
Environment
  • Professional standards
  • Demanding, honest, competitive
  • Built for progression
Players prepared for senior football and real pathways.
$110per player
45-min · 2×/week
Schedule
Wednesday · 7:30–8:15pm
Friday · 5:45–6:30pm
Inside The Cage — game-ready pitch
The Standard · Set Daily
04 / The Lab

Specialist
Edge.

Position-specific, purpose-built sessions for players who want to develop a specialist edge.

1v1 training inside The Cage
1v1 · Tight Spaces · Real Pressure
01
Finishing Lab
Goals Change
Games.
We build goal scorers.
For attackers, wide players, midfielders — anyone who wants end product.
Core Focus
  • Movement inside the box (timing, separation, double movements)
  • Finishing techniques (one-touch, volleys, weak foot, tight angles)
  • Composure under pressure
  • Decision making in the final third
Session Design
  • High repetition — 50–100+ finishes per session
  • Game-real scenarios (cutbacks, crosses, rebounds, transitions)
  • Pressure-based finishing (defenders, time limits, constraints)
Outcome: Players stop hoping to score — they expect to.
$40per player
30-min · 4–6 players
02
Midfield Lab
Control The Game.
Control Everything.
Built for engine-room players.
Central midfielders, attacking mids, deep-lying playmakers.
Core Focus
  • Scanning & awareness before receiving
  • First touch direction & body shape
  • Playing under pressure in tight spaces
  • Tempo control — when to speed up / slow down
  • Breaking lines
Session Design
  • Constant pressure environments
  • Limited time & space constraints
  • Directional possession games
  • Decision-making overload
Outcome: Calm in chaos. Always one step ahead.
$40per player
30-min · 4–6 players
03
Defensive Lab
Win Duels.
Or Get Exposed.
Defenders who dominate — not survive.
Defenders, holding mids, and any player wanting to defend properly.
Core Focus
  • 1v1 defending — body position, timing, patience
  • Reading the game — interceptions, anticipation
  • Defensive positioning & spacing
  • Communication & leadership
  • Transition defending
Session Design
  • Repeated 1v1 / 2v2 duels
  • Overload & recovery scenarios
  • Game breakdown situations
  • Defensive decision-making under fatigue
Outcome: Defenders who set the standard.
$40per player
30-min · 4–6 players
04
Speed & Movement Lab
Speed Isn't Running.
It's How You Move.
Athletic performance, footballer-specific.
All players serious about athletic performance.
Core Focus
  • Acceleration mechanics — first 3–5 steps
  • Change of direction — deceleration + re-acceleration
  • Agility & reaction speed
  • Football-specific movement patterns
  • Injury prevention
Session Design
  • Short, explosive work blocks
  • Reactive drills — decision + movement
  • Ball-integrated speed work
  • Strength + movement combination
Outcome: Faster, sharper, more explosive footballers.
$40per player
30-min · 4–6 players
Premium · Fully Customised

One
On One.

The fastest path to improvement. Every minute spent on your game — your weaknesses, your position, your goals. No queues, no drills you don't need, no compromise.

01
Fully
Customised
Built around the player. Position, level and goals dictate the session — not the other way around.
02
High
Intensity
Minimal downtime. Every rep is meaningful. The work is concentrated and the standard is set.
03
Immediate
Feedback
Real-time correction. Mistakes get fixed in the moment, not weeks later in a film room.
Book a Session → Enquire
1:1 Training
Pricing
Single
Session
$90per session
8-Week
Block
$7008 sessions
Save $20 with the 8-week block · serious players, serious commitment
Book 1:1 Now →
05 / Pricing

Invest In
The Work.

Program prices are shown on each program above. Below are the one-off sessions, specialist options, and our junior program. For a full price list at a glance, see the summary table at the bottom of the page.

Specialist
Micro Group
  • 1 session per week
  • Specialised sessions
$60per player
Analysis / IDP
  • Performance review
  • Individual or team
$100per analysis
Signature
Cage Session
  • 60-minute timeslot
  • 6 player maximum
$20per player
Conditioning
  • Use of conditioning equipment
  • 60-minute session
$20per session
Junior Program · Ages 4–6
Mini Kickers · Where Little Ballers Begin
Cage Cubs

An introductory football program for young children taking their first steps into the game. Fun, confidence, movement and ball mastery through small-sided 3v3 play in the caged environment — lots of touches, big involvement, and freedom to try, fail and learn.

Caged pitches with rebound walls 3v3 — no keepers, no subs Small teams, big involvement Fun-first environment Confidence for every child
$250 per player · 10-week block
  • WhenSunday mornings
    9:00–10:00am or 10:15–11:15am
  • StartsTerm 2 · 10-week block
  • WhereThe Cage — Level 1, 465 Wyndham St, Shepparton
  • IncludesPlaying top
06 / Add-Ons

Specialist
Add-Ons.

** Listed pricing applicable when adding to our core packages **
Mental Edge
The difference at the top is mindset
  • Confidence & resilience
  • Handling pressure
  • Training habits
  • Focus & discipline
Players who don't just train hard — they compete better.
$30
per session
$180
8-week block
Email Us to Add This →
S & C
Built to perform. Built to last.
  • Age/level appropriate strength
  • Power & explosiveness
  • Injury prevention
  • Recovery
Durable, athletic footballers ready for higher levels.
$15
per session
$100
8-week block
Email Us to Add This →
Analysis
See it. Understand it. Improve it.
  • Game understanding
  • Position-specific analysis
  • Decision-making review
  • Video breakdown sessions
  • IDP tracking
For Advanced / Elite players only.
$80
per review
Email Us to Add This →
Cage Sessions
Small space. Big decisions.
  • Decision making under pressure
  • Playing in tight spaces
  • Quick reactions
  • Competitiveness
Players who thrive under pressure — not panic.
$20
per session
Email Us to Add This →
Micro Group
Maximum attention. Maximum improvement.
  • Individual weaknesses addressed
  • Position-specific refinement
  • Technical repetition at volume
  • Fully customised sessions
Fast-tracked improvement you can't get in team sessions.
$60
per session
$300
8-week block
Email Us to Add This →
07 / The Cage
The Cage — Where Ballers Are Built
The Academy's Home
Inside The Cage — chain-link training pitch
Inside · The Cage Facility

A purpose-built high-performance football environment, engineered to develop complete players in a space that demands more.

At the heart of the facility are two small-sided synthetic caged pitches, built for high-intensity, fast-paced training where players are constantly under pressure. Rebound walls surround the playing areas — the game never stops. Decisions are quicker, touches are sharper, players are always engaged.

Beyond the pitch, The Cage supports every aspect of player development. A dedicated strength and agility zone, a recovery space to reset between sessions, and an analysis room for video breakdown and tactical education.

The Cage pitch — synthetic turf with goal and crowd mural
F/01
Caged
Pitches
Two small-sided synthetic pitches with rebound walls.
F/02
Strength
Zone
Dedicated strength & agility development area.
F/03
Analysis
Room
TV & video breakdown for tactical education.
F/04
Recovery
Zone
Relaxation space to reset between sessions.
Beyond The Pitch · Strength, Recovery & Lounge
The Cage strength & conditioning zone — dumbbells, bench and Speediance
F/02 · Strength Zone
Built To
Perform.
Full strength & conditioning setup — dumbbell rack, Speediance trainer, adjustable bench, kettlebells, swiss ball and foam roller. Footballer-specific work in a dedicated, focused space.
The Cage recovery zone — KIVA Wellness sauna
F/04 · Recovery Zone
Reset.
Recover.
A dedicated recovery space featuring the KIVA Wellness infrared sauna. Reset between sessions, support recovery, and bring the same standard to the work that happens off the pitch.
The Cage common area — lounge, cafe tables and TV
F/05 · Lounge
The
Home Room.
A welcoming common space with lounges, cafe-style seating and a TV running matches. Where players unwind, parents watch on, and the Academy community comes together between sessions.
Less
Space
By Design
More
Pressure
By Standard
Faster
Decisions
By Outcome
🎉 Now Booking at The Cage

Birthday
Parties.

When the birthday squad takes the pitch — it's game on. Host the party at The Cage and turn a birthday into a proper football experience.

Two hours. Twelve guests.
One unforgettable birthday.
Kids playing 4v4 inside The Cage
Inside The Cage · Game On
⏱
Two Hour
Time Slot
12
Up To
12 Guests
⚽
Cage +
Party Zone
🍕
Food +
Drinks
Kick
Off
BYO Essentials
$350 up to 12 guests
  • Private cage for the full session — drills, games and a mini match
  • Dedicated party host & referee runs the show
  • Balls, bibs and all equipment provided
  • Reserved party zone with tables and chairs for guests
  • BYO food and birthday cake
  • Soft drink and water station for 12 guests
  • Digital invitations
We've got the venue & host sorted, you bring the spread!
Match
Day
Fully Catered & Hosted
$480 up to 12 guests
  • Everything in Kick Off, plus —
  • Pizza and hot dogs, plus unlimited soft drink and juice
  • Hot chip platters to share
  • Cake plate up — you bring it, we cut and serve
  • Medals for every guest + a Cage ball for the Birthday Star
  • Trophy presentation and team photo to finish
The sweet spot — parents don't need to lift a finger with this one!
Champions
League
Premium Experience
$650 up to 12 guests
  • Everything in Match Day, plus —
  • Extended play — Champions League style tournament
  • Upgraded catering — pizza, hot dogs, chips, pies, sausage rolls and fruit platter
  • Party favour bags for 12 guests
  • Champions trophy lift and podium pics
  • Signed guest ball and named jersey for the Birthday Star
The full experience — for a very memorable birthday!
Build Your Own Match-Winner.
Add any of the below to your selected package

On-Pitch Extras

  • Extra Cage Time (30 mins)$80
  • World Cup Tournament & Trophy Lift Photo$80
  • Penalty Shootout$40
  • Dodgeball Round$40

Adult Catering

  • Fruit Platter$35ea
  • Cheese & Dip Platter$40ea
  • Pies & Sausage Rolls$40ea
  • Pizzas$14ea

Party Favours

  • Party Favour Bag per guest$5pp
  • Personalised Cage Jersey — Birthday Star$40
  • Personalised Cage Jerseys — entire group$30pp
  • Signed team ball keepsake$30
  • Framed printed team photo$20

Finishing Touches

  • Piñata$40
  • PlayStation FIFA Gaming Station$30
  • Decoration Pack — Balloons & Themed Table$80
  • Printed Personalised Invites$25

The Ts & Cs

  • $100 non-refundable deposit is required at time of booking to secure your date and time slot
  • Balance is due and payable day of booking
  • Arrive up to 30 mins early to set up
  • Bookings are required 4 weeks in advance
  • Parties are best suited for ages 6–14
  • Prices are set per package and are for up to 12 guests maximum
  • Set up, clean up and all paper goods are included in packages
  • Any add-ons can be locked in up to 5 days in advance
  • The Cage is an alcohol and smoke free venue
  • All participants must adhere to the house rules

Book Now.

Lock in your date — slots fill fast, especially weekends. Get in touch and we'll send you a date sheet.

✉
Email
thecage@theacademyvic.com.au
☎
SMS
0407 400 800
08 / Your First Session

What to expect when you arrive — no surprises, no awkwardness.

Step 01
Arrive Early
Get here 10 minutes before your session. Head up to Level 1.
Step 02
Meet Your Coach
A quick chat to understand your goals, experience, and anything we should know.
Step 03
Get Into It
Warm-up. Technical work. Game-real scenarios. Built for your level.
Step 04
Debrief
What we saw. What to work on. What's next.
If You're Here

You Work.
You Improve.

You take responsibility. Because in our view — talent is common. Application isn't.

Enrol Now → See Pricing
09 / Contact

Get In
Touch.

Questions about programs, pricing, or whether your child is the right fit? Drop us a line — we'll be in touch.

For enrolments, head straight to our booking site. For everything else — questions, partnerships, trial sessions, group enquiries — reach out below or directly via email.

@
Email
admin@theacademyvic.com.au
☎
Phone / SMS
0407 400 800
→
Enrolments
Book a place online
◉
Location
Level 1, 465 Wyndham St, Shepparton VIC 3630
We aim to reply within 48 hours
Full Price List · At a Glance
Program Format Price
Core Programs
Entry 45-min · 1×/week · groups capped at 8 $35per player
Rise 45-min · 1×/week · groups capped at 8 $35per player
Edge 45-min · 1×/week · groups capped at 8 $45per player
Elite 45-min · 2×/week · invitation only $110per player
The Lab · Specialist
The Lab 30-min · 1×/week · 4–6 players (any lab) $40per player
Micro Group Specialised small-group session $60per player
Analysis / IDP Performance review · individual or team $100per analysis
Signature
Cage Session 60-min timeslot · 6 player max $20per player
Conditioning 60-min · use of conditioning equipment $20per session
Premium · 1:1
1:1 Training Fully customised · per session $90per session
1:1 — 8-Week Block 8 sessions of fully customised 1:1 training $7008-week block
Junior Program · Ages 4–6
Cage Cubs Sun 9–10am or 10:15–11:15am · 10-week block · incl. playing top $250per player
All prices in AUD. Birthday party packages and add-ons listed separately in the relevant sections above.